The 10 BEST Transformers Video Games
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VOICE OVER: Ty Richardson
WRITTEN BY: Ty Richardson
The Transformers have had a mixed bag when it comes to quality games, but these show there is more than meets the eye. For this list, we'll be looking at the very best games to star the robots in disguise. Our list includes “Transformers: Fall of Cybertron” (2012), “Transformers Battlegrounds” (2020), “Transformers Animated: The Game” (2008), and more!
Welcome to MojoPlays, and today, we’re taking a look at the 10 Best “Transformers” Video Games! The robots in disguise have had a mixed bag when it comes to quality games, but when developers deliver, they show there is more than meets the eye. Which “Transformers” game is your favorite? Did it make the list? Let us know down in the comments!
“Transformers: Animated” is certainly one of the best shows in the franchise with its unique artstyle and character design. As for the video game, well, the game is surprisingly solid! Developed by Artificial Mind & Movement (known today as Behaviour Interactive, the studio behind “Dead By Daylight”), “Transformers Animated: The Game” offers up a good side scrolling adventure on the DS filled with fun puzzles akin to the old SNES game “The Lost Vikings”. Its basic, easy to grasp, and miles better than several other “Transformers” games were getting around the time it launched.
Sure, most of us wouldn’t give the time of day to a mobile game. A pompous remark, yes, but have you seen the state of mobile gaming? “Transformers: Earth Wars” paints a target on its own back by being essentially a clone of “Clash of Clans”. And yet…it’s fun? Fortify your own base, wage war with other players as either the Autobots or the Decepticons, and collect Crystals to recruit other Transformers from across the franchise. Yes, it is a mobile game with microtransactions and gacha mechanics, but there is a lot of fun to be had here between character interactions, building and improving your base, and challenging yourself to tear down bases of opposing players and seeing how creative they’ve gotten with their defenses.
There were plenty of reasons to be skeptical of “War for Cybertron” back when it was being marketed. It came at a time where shooters were trying to be like “Gears of War” and “Halo” if not “Call of Duty” and “Battlefield”. Didn’t help that it was weaseling in an online multiplayer component. To our surprise, “War for Cybertron” was one of 2010’s coolest games! The multiple playable characters presented in each mission gave the campaign more replay value than most shooters at the time. As for the multiplayer, players could customize their very own Transformer before jumping into the PvP or PvE modes. Those who owned the DS version even got two separate campaigns to play the story from both the Autobots and Decepticons’ perspectives. It's everything we could have asked for from a “Transformers” game and more!
Did anyone else notice a “Transformers” game came out last year? For some reason, “Beyond Reality” seemed to have no marketing and was just eked out on PlayStation VR. And we gotta say, this game is freakin’ awesome! Play through six challenging levels as you fight alongside the Autobots with your very own Cybertronian armor and weapons. Despite its short playthrough, it is an absolute thrill ride from start to finish. If you still have a PSVR, you should absolutely check this out!
While the console versions of this title were not too terrible, they weren’t too decent either. Very middling. The 3DS version was the one worth playing, though. Honestly, it’s simply a fun game that doesn’t expect too much from you and won’t make you sweat. The multiple playable characters and combat are enough for us to warrant a recommendation if not the enticing offerings for multiplayer. If only wasn’t stranded on a dead handheld console.
“Transformers Battlegrounds” did not get much attention when it launched back in 2020, and we’re not exactly sure why. If you like tactics games like “XCOM” or the “Mario + Rabbids” games, this is worth your time! As the new commander of the Autobots, you must give orders so that Bumblebee and the crew can fend off the Decepticons from stealing the AllSpark. In addition to presenting a similar level of challenge as the aforementioned franchises, “Transformers Battlegrounds” also sports a local multiplayer so you and your friends can test your wits against each other.
Let’s get one thing straight - “Transformers: The Game” was a bit of a trainwreck. The DS counterparts, released separately as “Transformers: Autobots” and “Transformers: Decepticons”, was a different story. Create your very own Autobot or Decepticon and experience a story from either side’s perspectives. But one of the coolest aspects was its online multiplayer. There, you could take part in a completely separate campaign where “Autobots” players and “Decepticons” players competed and earned points across various challenges. For taking part in these challenges, you could earn tokens to unlock other characters and even cheats to use in the offline campaign. That’s…a lot for a handheld back in the naughties.
PlatinumGames has certainly seen a rocky career since their founding in 2007. However, “Transformers: Devastation” has continued to be one of the handful of games to shine bright. Take control of one of five Autobots - Optimus, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Grimlock, and Wheeljack - and unleash insane combos in a vein remarkably similar to “Bayonetta’s” combat. On top of that, the G1 artstyle washed us with a wave of nostalgia that’s borderline overwhelming (in a good way!). We only hope some of you were able to nab it before it was delisted from digital storefronts in 2017.
Compared to its predecessor , “Fall of Cybertron” feels much more scaled back in ambition. And yet, it did no harm to its final outcome. “Fall of Cybertron” introduced a new format where each chapter gave players a new character with their own set of skills to play with, and this time, you didn’t have just the usual Autobots - Dinobots rampaged their way into the storyline! Multiplayer, on the other hand, was just as fun as before with the character customization and different game modes. To this day, “Fall of Cybertron” is one of those “Transformers” games that is on another level.
Regardless of whether you’re a casual or hardcore “Transformers” fan, there simply has not been a “Transformers” experience like this. Developed by Atari for the PlayStation 2, “Transformers” was one of those extremely rare licensed games that was fantastic than most with its visuals, weapon variety, and frenetic action. The polish and attention to detail and making the game fun shows that the development team were excited and cared about “Transformers”. Why Hasbro hasn’t called up Atari to have them migrate the game forward to modern hardware is an enigma, especially considering how many folks today missed out on this hidden gem from years and years ago.
“Transformers Animated: The Game” (2008)
“Transformers: Animated” is certainly one of the best shows in the franchise with its unique artstyle and character design. As for the video game, well, the game is surprisingly solid! Developed by Artificial Mind & Movement (known today as Behaviour Interactive, the studio behind “Dead By Daylight”), “Transformers Animated: The Game” offers up a good side scrolling adventure on the DS filled with fun puzzles akin to the old SNES game “The Lost Vikings”. Its basic, easy to grasp, and miles better than several other “Transformers” games were getting around the time it launched.
“Transformers: Earth Wars” (2016)
Sure, most of us wouldn’t give the time of day to a mobile game. A pompous remark, yes, but have you seen the state of mobile gaming? “Transformers: Earth Wars” paints a target on its own back by being essentially a clone of “Clash of Clans”. And yet…it’s fun? Fortify your own base, wage war with other players as either the Autobots or the Decepticons, and collect Crystals to recruit other Transformers from across the franchise. Yes, it is a mobile game with microtransactions and gacha mechanics, but there is a lot of fun to be had here between character interactions, building and improving your base, and challenging yourself to tear down bases of opposing players and seeing how creative they’ve gotten with their defenses.
“Transformers: War for Cybertron” (2010)
There were plenty of reasons to be skeptical of “War for Cybertron” back when it was being marketed. It came at a time where shooters were trying to be like “Gears of War” and “Halo” if not “Call of Duty” and “Battlefield”. Didn’t help that it was weaseling in an online multiplayer component. To our surprise, “War for Cybertron” was one of 2010’s coolest games! The multiple playable characters presented in each mission gave the campaign more replay value than most shooters at the time. As for the multiplayer, players could customize their very own Transformer before jumping into the PvP or PvE modes. Those who owned the DS version even got two separate campaigns to play the story from both the Autobots and Decepticons’ perspectives. It's everything we could have asked for from a “Transformers” game and more!
“Transformers: Beyond Reality” (2022)
Did anyone else notice a “Transformers” game came out last year? For some reason, “Beyond Reality” seemed to have no marketing and was just eked out on PlayStation VR. And we gotta say, this game is freakin’ awesome! Play through six challenging levels as you fight alongside the Autobots with your very own Cybertronian armor and weapons. Despite its short playthrough, it is an absolute thrill ride from start to finish. If you still have a PSVR, you should absolutely check this out!
“Transformers: Prime - The Game” (2012)
While the console versions of this title were not too terrible, they weren’t too decent either. Very middling. The 3DS version was the one worth playing, though. Honestly, it’s simply a fun game that doesn’t expect too much from you and won’t make you sweat. The multiple playable characters and combat are enough for us to warrant a recommendation if not the enticing offerings for multiplayer. If only wasn’t stranded on a dead handheld console.
“Transformers Battlegrounds” (2020)
“Transformers Battlegrounds” did not get much attention when it launched back in 2020, and we’re not exactly sure why. If you like tactics games like “XCOM” or the “Mario + Rabbids” games, this is worth your time! As the new commander of the Autobots, you must give orders so that Bumblebee and the crew can fend off the Decepticons from stealing the AllSpark. In addition to presenting a similar level of challenge as the aforementioned franchises, “Transformers Battlegrounds” also sports a local multiplayer so you and your friends can test your wits against each other.
“Transformers Autobots & Decepticons” (2007)
Let’s get one thing straight - “Transformers: The Game” was a bit of a trainwreck. The DS counterparts, released separately as “Transformers: Autobots” and “Transformers: Decepticons”, was a different story. Create your very own Autobot or Decepticon and experience a story from either side’s perspectives. But one of the coolest aspects was its online multiplayer. There, you could take part in a completely separate campaign where “Autobots” players and “Decepticons” players competed and earned points across various challenges. For taking part in these challenges, you could earn tokens to unlock other characters and even cheats to use in the offline campaign. That’s…a lot for a handheld back in the naughties.
“Transformers: Devastation” (2015)
PlatinumGames has certainly seen a rocky career since their founding in 2007. However, “Transformers: Devastation” has continued to be one of the handful of games to shine bright. Take control of one of five Autobots - Optimus, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Grimlock, and Wheeljack - and unleash insane combos in a vein remarkably similar to “Bayonetta’s” combat. On top of that, the G1 artstyle washed us with a wave of nostalgia that’s borderline overwhelming (in a good way!). We only hope some of you were able to nab it before it was delisted from digital storefronts in 2017.
“Transformers: Fall of Cybertron” (2012)
Compared to its predecessor , “Fall of Cybertron” feels much more scaled back in ambition. And yet, it did no harm to its final outcome. “Fall of Cybertron” introduced a new format where each chapter gave players a new character with their own set of skills to play with, and this time, you didn’t have just the usual Autobots - Dinobots rampaged their way into the storyline! Multiplayer, on the other hand, was just as fun as before with the character customization and different game modes. To this day, “Fall of Cybertron” is one of those “Transformers” games that is on another level.
“Transformers” (2004)
Regardless of whether you’re a casual or hardcore “Transformers” fan, there simply has not been a “Transformers” experience like this. Developed by Atari for the PlayStation 2, “Transformers” was one of those extremely rare licensed games that was fantastic than most with its visuals, weapon variety, and frenetic action. The polish and attention to detail and making the game fun shows that the development team were excited and cared about “Transformers”. Why Hasbro hasn’t called up Atari to have them migrate the game forward to modern hardware is an enigma, especially considering how many folks today missed out on this hidden gem from years and years ago.
